Opside: ZK-RaaS Modular Blockchain Network

Author: Opside

Source: cointime

In the field of Ethereum scalability solutions, the concept of Layer 2 (L2) is widely recognized. It not only addresses scalability issues but also provides an efficient, secure, and low-cost user experience.

However, L2 also has certain limitations, as it cannot effectively integrate various hardware resources, including data availability, zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) computing power, and peer-to-peer (P2P) nodes. This has also given rise to the concept of modular blockchains.

A modular blockchain is a blockchain network architecture that adopts a modular design philosophy. This architecture allows developers to customize the blockchain applications they need by combining and splitting various functional modules.

In a modular blockchain, different functional modules can be seen as independent subsystems, and these subsystems can interact through standard interfaces or protocols. This design approach enables developers to select the functional modules they need and combine them to meet their specific requirements.

For example, in a modular blockchain, developers can choose the consensus mechanism, data storage solution, virtual machine, and smart contract modules they need and combine them to create a complete blockchain system that meets their needs. Such a design can significantly improve development efficiency, allowing developers to build blockchain applications that better suit their requirements more quickly.

Opside: ZK-RaaS + Modular + Three-Layer Architecture

Opside is a decentralized network built on the concept of modular blockchains, offering ZK-Rollup-as-a-Service (ZK-RaaS). Through a complex three-layer blockchain architecture, Opside combines the advantages of Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanisms. This design provides Web3 developers with a powerful and feature-rich zkEVM chain that can be easily generated with a single click.

On April 6, 2023, Opside announced the completion of a $4 million seed round financing, led by Web3.com Ventures. The seed funding will be used to accelerate Opside's development, expand its team, and scale its operations.

Core Feature One: Three-Layer Blockchain Architecture

Opside's three-layer architecture is built on top of L2, seamlessly integrating various modules and providing an external Zero-Knowledge-Rollup-as-a-Service (ZK-RaaS) platform. Breaking down this three-layer architecture, we can see that it specifically includes:

1. L1, Public Chain

For example, Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Polygon.

2. L2, Opside Chain

Opside provides extensive decentralized consensus, data availability, and zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) computing power. All transactions and data generated on this chain are verified and stored through L2. Therefore, transactions can be executed quickly while maintaining low fees.

3. L3, Rollup Layer

Rollups offload resource-intensive computations from the chain, thereby improving scalability. Opside offers various types of Zero-Knowledge-Rollup software development kits (SDKs), especially zkEVM, including Polygon Hermez, Scroll, Taiko, zkSync, etc. Developers can easily deploy their ZK-Rollup projects on Opside's third layer (L3) with just one click, and the distributed Opside network will provide all necessary hardware resources.

On this basis, the various layers can be interconnected through different cross-chain bridges, allowing assets to be seamlessly transferred between Layer 1 (L1), Layer 2 (L2), or Layer 3 (L3).

Core Feature Two: Decentralized ZK-RaaS

Opside's Layer 3, also known as the Rollup layer, is a scaling solution where all transactions are executed off-chain, thus avoiding competition for block space with the valuable execution layer. Rollups move the expensive computation processes off-chain while placing the verification results on-chain, achieving scalability.

After transaction execution, the transaction data or proof is sent to the execution layer for verification and finalization. Therefore, the Rollup scaling solution is protected by the same security measures as the execution layer, which provides the security guarantees for Rollups.

The zero-knowledge EVM (zkEVM) recreates the proof/verification circuits of existing EVM opcodes, enabling smart contracts to execute in a ZK-friendly environment. Opside L3 utilizes multiple zkEVMs to effectively verify the correctness of program execution to meet the requirements of different dapps.

Specifically, Opside's Layer 3 will include the following types of ZK-Rollup environments:

1. General Environment

The general environment refers to Opside providing a general ZK-Rollup on Layer 3 for ordinary users and developers to interact with. To ensure a secure, stable, and reliable zkEVM to run the general Rollup environment, Opside will work on two fronts:

1) Continuously monitor and research current open-source zkEVM projects in the market, including Polygon Hermez, Scroll, Taiko, etc. Based on the characteristics and specific situations of each project (such as the degree of openness and code stability), Opside will selectively integrate these projects.

2) Opside will also maintain a close relationship with ZKWasm, an in-development extension framework aimed at providing a friendly environment for applications from the traditional WebAssembly community, including web, gaming, and social applications.

2. Environment for Specific Applications

For Rollups targeting specific application types, Opside will provide independent operating environments through dedicated configurations and optimizations to meet their various performance and economic model needs. Building on a specific application's zkRollup is similar to building on a general Rollup, with the only difference being the use of unique RPC endpoints and contract information. Since zero-knowledge proofs still need to be submitted to L2, these customized changes will not affect the security of such Rollups. These Rollups need to register for Opside's native rollup slots, at which point they will enjoy additional features such as cross-Rollup communication and precompiled ZKP verification contracts.

Opside also plans to design and implement dedicated circuits for these specific application Rollups. The technical team will modify the underlying circuits and opcodes of Rollups to better fit the operational logic of the applications. This modification will also significantly reduce the operational overhead for project parties.

Core Feature Three: Hybrid Consensus of PoS and PoW

ZK-Rollups have more advantages than OP-Rollups, including enhanced security, no trust requirements, and faster withdrawal speeds. A key technical distinction is that ZK-Rollups require strong ZKP computing power to support the generation of zero-knowledge proofs.

In the future, the Opside network may consist of hundreds of ZK-Rollups, which will collectively form the Rollup layer, creating a significant demand for ZKP computing. To address this issue, it is essential to incentivize miners to participate and contribute to the ecosystem.

As Ethereum transitions from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS), many Ethereum miners have been eliminated, representing approximately $12 billion in market value.

With the maturation of ZK-Rollup technology, the generation of ZKPs requires substantial hardware and mining equipment, such as FPGAs and GPUs. Opside's hybrid consensus of PoS and PoW not only employs the PoS mechanism to incentivize validators to provide data availability but also utilizes PoW to encourage miners to provide ZKP computing power. This approach provides a comprehensive hardware solution for ZK-Rollups. All participants, including users, developers, node operators, and miners, can benefit from Opside's economic model.

Opside aims to ensure that ZK-Rollups inherit not only the security of previous layers but also the degree of decentralization. Ethereum is currently the largest decentralized network globally, with over 500,000 nodes, providing large-scale decentralization. Due to data sharding technology, these nodes will also provide significant data availability in the future. This is one of the reasons Opside chose to base its enhanced PoS consensus on ETH 2.0.

Opside expects to host over 100,000 nodes. To achieve a similar level of decentralization for Rollups, a viable strategy is to have the block proposers of the Opside Chain propose blocks for the Rollup Layer. This method separates the builders and proposers of the Rollup layer: builders are supported by an unauthorized P2P network, while proposers follow the block proposers of the second layer. This eliminates availability risks associated with a single node and provides resistance to miner extractable value (MEV) and censorship.

The hybrid PoS and PoW consensus requires the following division of labor:

1. Layer 2 (L2)

PoS: Opside will adopt and improve ETH 2.0's PoS, forming a consensus layer with over 100,000 validators. Anyone can become a validator using IDE tokens. Additionally, Opside's PoS is provable, and validators will regularly submit PoS proofs to Layer 1. Validators can earn block rewards and gas fees on Layer 2.

2. Layer 3 (L3)

PoS (Sequencer): Validators not only propose Layer 2 blocks but also propose Layer 3 blocks (i.e., data batches); in other words, validators are also the sequencers of the native Rollups in Layer 3. Sequencers can earn gas fees from transactions in Layer 3.

PoW (Prover): Anyone with sufficient computing power for ZKP computation can become a prover for the local Rollup. Provers generate ZK proofs for each local Rollup in Layer 3. Provers generate ZK proofs for each block submitted by sequencers in Layer 3 according to PoW rules.

A ZK-Rollup is similar to a computer with two core components: a hard drive and a CPU. The data availability provided by PoS is akin to a hard drive, while the computing power provided by PoW is similar to a CPU. Opside seeks to strike a balance between PoS and PoW, allowing each role to fully realize its value and benefits while providing better performance and user experience for a large-scale ZK-Rollups network.

Achieving this balance will ensure that the Opside network can effectively support the substantial demand for ZKP computing generated by a large number of ZK-Rollups. By effectively leveraging the advantages of both PoS and PoW mechanisms, Opside can create a robust and sustainable ecosystem to meet the needs of all its participants, including users, developers, node operators, and miners.

Token Economics

The official token of the Opside network is IDE, with a maximum supply of 10 billion tokens, and the distribution details are as follows.

1) 10% ------ Allocated to VC

2) 14% ------ Allocated to Opside team and contributors

3) 15% ------ Allocated to the community, including early testers, ecosystem project developers, and potential future airdrop recipients

4) 28% ------ Designated for the foundation to support ecosystem development, subsequent financing, and other purposes.

5) 33% ------ As rewards for validators and miners providing data storage services, generating zero-knowledge proofs, maintaining the blockchain, and executing contracts.

According to the hybrid PoS and PoW consensus, block rewards will be divided into two parts, allocated to validators and miners. During the Pre-Alpha testing network phase, the temporary block reward ratio of PoS and PoW is fixed at 1:2, meaning 11% of IDE is allocated to validators and 22% to miners. In the future, this ratio will be dynamically adjusted based on the supply and demand of ZKP computing power across the network.

Community Governance

After the launch of the Opside main network, an Opside DAO will be established, characterized by reasonable processes and mechanisms to collectively decide the future of the network.

All updates to the parameters and mechanisms of the Opside main network will be determined by the Opside DAO. Opside represents a cooperative economy that evolves over time, with future improvements taking the form of DAO proposals.

As the network expands, it is crucial to establish an economy that can operate independently and robustly without the need for extensive tools and subsidies.

Conclusion

As a decentralized network built on the concept of modular blockchains offering ZK-Rollup-as-a-Service (ZK-RaaS), Opside innovatively constructs a three-layer blockchain architecture and adopts a hybrid consensus of PoS and PoW by combining the advantages of both.

As Opside continues to grow and develop, it may play a significant role in promoting the adoption of ZK-Rollup technology and fostering a decentralized, scalable, and secure environment for blockchain applications. This will contribute to the long-term success and widespread use of ZK-Rollups in the blockchain space.